a healthy balance blog – with extra love for Cleveland

Announcements

My yoga practice and teaching path might have started elsewhere, but it made its new home here last twelve months ago.

In the fall of 2012, I returned to full time employment. With going from freelancing back to a full-time job, concern worried me. How would I fit in a regular practice to this 40+ hour a week schedule? But then I got word that Evolution Yoga announced it was reopening – and in the same plaza as my full time job — it felt like the Universe was opening up to say, “no worries, Alicia — here’s a vinyasa yoga studio and enjoy.”

In October 2013, the studio opened and I had the opportunity to audition to join the teaching staff. I dove right in, picking up two classes on the regular schedule, trying to learn as much as I could from Sandy, the studio owner, and the other EY teachers. This new community accepted me with open arms as my previous yoga home closed it doors, allowing me to thrive in this new-to-me setting.

The past twelve months have been a journey in understanding myself: as a teacher, as a student, as a wife, a daughter, a sister and a friend. But in all of it, a few things kept me focused:

A deep down desire to serve others.

A need to make more space in my life for positive energies.

A want for more opportunities to grow my yoga career while utilizing the skills I developed an event planner and community builder.

A goal of accepting myself for exactly who I am.

But to do all of that, I had to change. And DRASTICALLY. It was crystal clear that it was time to do what was necessary to achieve what I wanted to become. And lucky for me, the community surrounding me was there to help make it happen.

This month, I start as the Director of Development for Evolution Yoga School & Practice Space. I’ll be able to use all the skills I’ve learned so far in my professional career to help the business thrive. This new role also gives me the opportunity to grow as a yoga teacher (including adding more classes to my teaching schedule!) – something I’ve dedicated myself to for the past year. I’m so excited to dig in.

To Sandy and the entire EY community: thank you for welcoming twelve months ago with open arms. You’re all about to get a lot more hugs, savasana assists and playlists filled with John Mayer slow jams.

File this one in the #whatyoubelieveyoucreate folder, kids – sankuplas (and dreams) do come true.

On Wednesday, September 18, The Arthritis Foundation is pleased to be able to offer its constituents who suffer from arthritis a massage at Massage Envy for FREE! Massage Envy also will donate $10 of every massage or facial and 10% of all products sold at Massage Envy Clinics to the Arthritis Foundation, with a goal of raising $1,000,000 across the country.

Massage therapy can play an important role in alleviating the pain and swelling caused by arthritis, improving flexibility and circulation and reducing stress and anxiety - plus who wouldn’t love an hour of peace and quiet in their day?

Here are the requirements for a FREE massage:

You have arthritis and would benefit from a massage

You are not currently a Massage Envy member

You can claim your massage on Wednesday, September 18 - Healing Hands for Arthritis Day

Reservations will be on a first-come, first- served basis

Other information:

The value of the free massage is $78

Tipping is not required, but it would be a nice gesture; $10 to $15 would be appropriate

It will take a total of 60 minutes (50 minutes on the table, 5 minutes before for a consultation and 5 minutes afterwards to get dressed)

To book your appointment:

Call one of the clinics listed below and tell the staff person that the Arthritis Foundation referred you for a free massage for Healing Hands for Arthritis Day on Wednesday, September 18

Staff person will ask for a credit card number to reserve your appt. but will not charge anything

The number of donated services are limited and will vary by location. If the clinic closest to you does not have any services available, you can go on a wait list, as the clinic continues to work to identify additional appointments, or you can ask for availability at another location

Please be aware that being placed on the wait list does not hold an appointment for you

Those who cannot attend can still donate $10 by texting the word “massage” to 80888 from Wednesday, September 18th through Friday, September 20th.

If you have any questions and live in the Northeastern Ohio area, please contact dschwartz@arthritis.org or 216.285.2826. Or leave a comment below and I’ll try to get an answer for you.

So do us a favor: spread the word about this opportunity for those with arthritis to get a bit of ease through a wonderful opportunity from Massage Envy!

Disclosure: I work full-time at the Arthritis Foundation, Great Lakes Region, Northeastern Ohio market. Sharing this information is not part of my job responsibilities. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

It’s very fitting that on the morning I planned to announce the winner of the ellasport Chloe Long-Sleeve Tee that Cleveland is getting a significant coating of snow!! So were you the lucky winner? Let’s first find out your responses to the mandatory first entry questions: here are favorite workout motivation tactics and your favorite “keep warm in the winter” tricks…

your favorite “keep warm in the winter” tricks included:

Keep moving! The more energy I expend working out, the warmer I feel to sip lots of hot tea – so good for you and really helps keep me warm. Also snuggling up with my fur ball works too…

Lots of layers – you can never be too prepared! Not to mention after our long runs on Saturdays the girls and I end at Starbucks for a nice hot latte!!!!!

My favorite winter work out tactic is to keep my home on the cool to colder side. This way being cold makes me get on my treadmill to work up a good sweat. Then I don’t mind that the house is cold.

Hand warmers! I use them all the time in the winter. I buy them in bulk at Costco and Marshalls usually has them on sale.

My trick for staying warm is wearing a scarf every day all day even indoors. It is a neural brown so it goes with every outfit!

I do some light cardio in the house before I head outside to stay warm!

to stay warm at home i wrap myself in my heated blankie…

I have to admit – I’m a HUGE fan of the leggings under EVERYTHING suggestion. I also find a pup will sub as a heated blanket in a pinch!

your favorite workout motivation tactics included:

If I’m lacking motivation, I just need to GET OUT THE FRONT DOOR. seriously, works every time.

I know I am crazy, but I love a cold snowy run. I find battling the elements to be very motivating!

Motivation for me is that I always ALWAYS feel better after I work out. ALWAYS.

My current motivation is the upcoming wedding. I had my first fitting, so no gaining for me!

I like the “you’re stronger than you think you are” mantra.

I always stay motivated to work out by remembering how “slow and sluggish” my body feels when I don’t.

I’m still in the “getting healthy” not “super athlete” phase. So I set reminders on my phone to get moving.

SUCK IN YOUR ABS when doing weight training!

I find it easier though if I get up in the morning and get it out of the way.

My motivation trick is to leave my workout clothes out the night before an A.M. workout.

My motivation for workout is that I will stay fit and I can wear all my favorite dresses without any adjustments.

My favorite workout motivation tactic for running is to have an outfit that makes me feel fast.

My go-to motivation is in knowing how fast the ability to run and move can be taken from you. Makes me grateful to have get up and go.

My best motivation is working out with a friend, or a killer music playlist on the iPod.

My favorite motivation tactic is definitely accountability. If my boyfriend knows I plan on running five miles and I don’t, I’ll feel lame.

I like to daydream about my beach vacations, it helps me think about how I’d LIKE to look in my bikini.

Whenever you are lacking motivation, think back on these suggestions – I think I’ve used them all at some point to get my body moving!

So what did our giveaway winner have to say?

Congrats Melissa from I Crashed The Web! I love the idea to sleep IN your workout gear – talk about setting yourself up for success! And I think you’re right – the length of the shirt is going to be perfect on you!! Please email me at poiseinparma (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing info to claim your prize.